—Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times
"Charismatic mezzo... top-notch comic sparks... surprisingly big-hearted"
"An absolute scream"
"Stood out... surpassed expectations... pitch perfect"
“Still, one performer stood out above the others. That the bearded lady would steal the show may seem a given, but as Baba the Turk, mezzo-soprano Cindy Sadler surpassed expectations. With effortless command of the stage and her voice both her florid music and her arsenal of animated facial expressions were pitch perfect.”
"Matronly warmth behind extravagant egotism... loved her from the first note"
“As Baba the Turk, Cindy Sadler almost made you forget she was a bearded lady, so much did she project matronly warmth behind extravagant egotism. You loved her from her first note - along with the rest of the opera.”
"Took this role to the bank, to several financial institutions, and then to various jewelers"
“But then the composer undercuts the heroine’s prima position by creating the totally over-the-top role of Baba the Turk, the histrionic bearded lady Tom eventually marries. Cindy Sadler took this role to the bank, to several financial institutions, and then to various jewelers.”
"Born to sing"
“Texas mezzo-soprano Cindy Sadler seems to have been born to sing the ridiculous but ever so human Baba the Turk.”
